IOWA CITY, IA - OCTOBER 31: Interim head coach Mike Locksley of the Maryland Terrapins watches the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium on October 31, 2015 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)

University of Maryland names DC native Mike Locksley as football head coach

Mike Locksley, who had two previous stints at Maryland, will come from the University of Alabama.

Author:
WUSA Staff

Published:
9:00 PM EST December 4, 2018

Updated:
9:53 AM EST December 5, 2018

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- A D.C.-native will be returning to the area after being named the new head football coach for the University of Maryland.

Mike Locksley, who had two previous stints at Maryland, is currently offensive coordinator at the University of Alabama. He was an assistant under Nick Saban when the Crimson Tide won the BCS National Championship in early 2018.

Locksley will be the 37th head football coach of the Maryland program and the 3rd since the school joined the Big 10.

Tuesday, Locksley was honored with the 2018 Broyles Award, which is given to the nation's top assistant coach.

"As we narrowed the search for the individual best suited to lead our program, Michael not only stood out for his talent as a coach, but most importantly for the role he has played as a mentor to student-athletes throughout his career and his deep commitment to helping them grow into leaders on and off the field," said Director of Athletics Damon Evans.

"I have been tremendously impressed at how the team came together through a difficult season and honored their fallen teammate, Jordan. We are all in this together, and I look forward to rejoining the Maryland family,” Locksley said in a statement.

According to the University of Maryland, Locksley has signed 21 recruits, including 14 from the DMV, over his career.

Locksley lost his son in 2017 in an unsolved murder case in Howard County.

Previous Coach DJ Durkin was fired in October following an investigation into the death of a student player, Jordan McNair. His firing came days after the University Board of Regents decided to reinstate Durkin following the investigation.

University President Wallace Loh ultimately exercised his power to fire Durkin and shortly after the President of the Board of Regents announced his resignation.

Prior to his employment with Alabama, Locksley served as Maryland's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2012-15. He was named the Terps interim head coach for the final six games of the 2015 season.

During his first stint at Maryland (1997-2002), Locksley worked as both a recruiter and player development coach in College Park. He oversaw the running backs during his entire tenure, including the final five as recruiting coordinator.

Locksley graduated from Towson University where he played on the football team and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing.